Apparatus for destroying insects



l T. JONES. Apparatus for Des'trying'Insects'.

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N.PETERS,.PNoTQ-LIYHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

f I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVIN T. JONES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

APPRATUS FOR DESTROYING INSECTS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 229,317, dated June 29, 1880. Application filed September 24, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEvIN T. JONES, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mosquito-Destroyers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a convenient and inexpensive device adapted to be employed in the destruction of mosquitoes or other insects.

The invention will first be described, and then designated in the claims. y

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 illustrates the device. Fig. 2 isa transverse view of same, a part being in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the block.

The letter A designates a square wooden block, having on two opposite edges of one surface a thin strip, b, preferably of rubber, cork, or some semielastic material. All the edges of the said surface may be thus provided. This block is mounted on the end of a round rod, c, and may be either rigidly secured thereto or may be hinged or pivoted thereon, as in the present example, wherein d represents a hinged joint, by which the block is adapted to be turned at an inclination at either one of two sides, which sides are those whereon the thin strips b are secured.

The letter E designates a wooden handle of any convenient length, having in one end a socket or a hole bored with an ordinary bit, which socket is adapted to receive the rod c.

A spiral spring, f, is irst placed within the socket, and the end of the rod c then rests on the spiral spring, and is adapted to move endwise, the tendency of the spring being to force the rod out of the socket. i

Suitable means should be employed to prevent the rod from being forced out of the socket. In the present instance the cords h, hereinafter described, serve this purpose. At each of the two edges, which are adapted to tilt on the hinged joint, a cord, h, is attached, and said cords are preferably joined together at their other ends and secured to the handle.

The block A is designed to be coated on the surface between the two strips b with turpentine or any sticky gum, or other sticky material which may be deemed suitable to cause the mosquitoes to adhere thereto.

The instrument is intended more especially for use in the day-time, when the mosquitoes are usually to be found on the ceiling of the room, and the manner of using the instrument may be described as follows: With one hand take hold of the handle and raise the block to within a short distance ofthe ceiling; by means of the cords 7L draw on the block, which compels the spring f to yield then, with the block i directly over a mosquito, let go the cord and the block will be quickly forced against the ceiling, the elastic strips preventing any injury thereto by the impact, and also prevent- `ing the sticky substances from coming in contact with the ceiling; but as these guard-strips are only about one-eighth of an inch thick, and project only that distance above the sticky surface of the block, the mosquito is quite sure to be caught by and made to adhere thereto.

Instead of rst drawing on the block by means of the oord and then releasing the cord, allowing the spring to drive the block, the block may be gently forced direct by the handle against the ceiling, the spring in such case doing duty to relieve the shock.

By means `of the hinged joint the necessity for standing immediately under the mosquito is obviated, as the block may be lirst tilted to any desired angle and retained in such position by the cords.

The strips b being on two opposite edges only of the block, the latter may be readily cleaned or rid of the accumulation of mosquitoes by scraping the surface in the direction of those edges not provided with strips.

I am aware that prior to my invention devices for destroying insects had been made, whichwere mounted on a rod by which the device could be raised to the ceiling, and prov-ision made so that the device could be tilted relatively tothe rod, and that a strip of rubber has, been employed, which prevents the device from injuring or defacing the walll Having described my invention, I claim and Sdesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United l. In a device for destroying mosquitoes or d, a rod, c, having lits end secured to the said I@ other insects, a block having sticky material hinged joint, and a cord, h, attached to each spread over its surface and guard-strips of any of the two opposite edges of the block, Which suitable material extending crosswise, with are adapted to tilt, as set forth.

5 their edges projecting above the sticky sur- LEVIN T JONES face, as set forth.

2. In a device for destroying mosquitoes or Witnesses: other insectsTthe combination of a block, A, CEAS. B. MANN, provided on its lower side with a hinged joint, CHARLES E. LEWIS. 

